Minor victory today

My mother in law and I went to an outlet mall that's about an hour outside of Nashville to check out the Gap and Carter's outlet. Btw, waaaaay cute stuff at the Carter's store, but Whit has too many clothes already so I bought some things for my upcoming nephew. Anyhoo, after looking through the tiny baby section we started looking for ourselves and BAM!

Uhhh yeah that's me in regular sized clothing and I don't want to kill myself over my muffin top... that you can't see! I am so stoked that I'm finally starting to feel normal-sized again. I'm a long way off from my pre-pregnancy body, but wearing real jeans is definitely a step in the right direction.

Woohoo!

Christmas...check. Baby shower #1...

Glad to see I'm not the only blogger that has been way too busy lately to post anything! I checked my Google Reader tonight and only saw a handful of Christmas posts. So I thought I would share how our first little Christmas as our new little family went.

Whit watching his Laugh and Learn Dance and Play Puppy...where do they get these awful names?!

Looking through Whitman's stocking.

Every year Santa visits the animals too. Usually all Ceti wants is a can of tuna and the tissue paper.

Foster aka Jealous aka Eeyore

The aftermath

The aftermath pt. 2

Watching the "yule log" burn while Whit took a nap.

The boys trying out Ben's Christmas present.

And me attempting it. Didn't know Ben took this!

The giant stocking at Ben's mother's house.

I sooo need to learn Photoshop to take that drool mark out. Otherwise this could be a Christmas card!

Commence planking!

And now to start prepping for baby shower #1 for my sister. The first one is going to be a "Mommy's Little Man" theme and I'm sooooo excited for all the things I've got planned. Now just to find the time to make it all. So far this is the diaper cake I made:

Not bad for my first one, right?

Whit's latest achievement...mobility!

We had a great Christmas and I hope everyone else did too!

Santa was very good to us, not that our little guy noticed. He's learned something new: scooting.

Just ignore that post-present-opening mess and you'll see... We had put him on his activity mat and he managed to scoot all over the living room rug. Silly boy!

We would put him back and he'd start all over again. He did about three laps at our house and three more at the in-laws. He's obsessed with scooting! The past three nights he's had trouble sleeping because he wants so badly to practice his new skill. So we just put him on the floor and let him go, occasionally turning him around so he doesn't hit his head on the hardwoods.

Maybe after he's mastered this he'll care about his presents!

Just wanted to share...

This awesome Groupon I got today for One Step Ahead, it's an all things baby website. I think I'm going to use mine to get some baby food-making supplies. I thought making my own baby food would be crazy, but after reading a few blogs I'm like the little blue engine "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can..."

Storytime and Mail

Since Wednesday Whit has had a great week. Wednesday he spent all day with his dad while I worked, and the boy was so excited he didn't take a nap all day and fought going to sleep that night pretty hard. (He's had a great time, but this mom is exhausted. Who knew one day would mess up his schedule sooo badly?) Anyway, Thursday brought his grandma back to town after being gone a couple of days and then today was our library's monthly storytime for babies. I wish they did it more often, because Whit adores it! And it's not like there's a ton of activities for babies out there, though there needs to be. This kid always wants to be on the go and doing something.

So much so I can never read him a book myself. When he was only a couple of weeks old we started everyday with a bottle and reading some of Winnie-the-Pooh and then one day he couldn't stand it anymore. Or any book. I can't even open one! As soon as I pick it up, here come the water works. Ben's a little sad by it since we both love to read. I was okay with it until today. Now I'm starting to have the new mom worries: Is it normal? Should I read to him anyway? Am I hindering him by not reading to him? Hopefully he'll grow out of this dislike of books, and I wouldn't mind soon!

Y'all. I am so happy this year we finally started getting some Christmas cards from other people! Every year I send out a stack with the tiniest glimmer of hope I'll get a couple from other people. This year we're up to six! You know, you'd think only six cards means we have no friends or family, but we have tons just hardly any of them write. Oh how I love getting mail and writing letters to people! It really is a lost art and I've tried to instigate more and more letter writing and card sending. I send more Christmas cards every year than the year before, I send out cards for birthdays and holidays, now I just need to send actual letters. Though I would be afraid of getting a Facebook message as a reply.

Anyhoo wanted to show off my Christmas card display I made this year...

I originally saw this on Living in the Woods and needed something a little smaller, so couldn't fit the lights on too. But we really dig it! I think I may keep it for other things during the year since there's nothing about it that screams Christmas.

And it was super easy to make. Get a frame without a back. Mine came from Michael's (the only bad thing about living in our town is with so many "antique" dealers, all the goodies are picked out of the thrift stores before you get there). Get some twine. Attach said twine with thumbtacks to back of frame in a zig-zaggy manner. Clip cards onto twine with mini-clothespins. Done!

Christmas cards done!

Feeding Time!

The past couple of days we've tried introducing Whit to rice cereal and it's been kind of so-so. The first day he was majorly excited...

But quickly decided we were crazy... (the doctor warned me about that)

So later that night when Ben and I were eating some snacks, Whit was watching us intently and trying to copy our moves.

The next day... voila! The boy had figured it out and was loving it!

Did I mention I think my kid's a genius? ;-)

No words

I keep going back and forth between just wanting to hold on tightly to my son and cry and getting so angry about what happened today that I cry. I just can't imagine... anything. I can't imagine what goes on in a person's head that makes them kill a child. I can't imagine the pain those parents are going through right now. I can't imagine coming home and seeing wrapped presents under the tree that will never go to their intended recipient.

I have to admit something. For the past few years I've lived in fear of this happening to Ben. But it never occurred to me I should fear this way for Whit when he goes to school. But this is my *exact* fear: a crazy person gets a gun, walks into wherever Ben is and starts shooting. The worst part of my fear is that the shooter kills himself before he can be caught. Sigh. I'll be having nightmares again tonight.

Oh those poor people, I wish I could help them. Anything. This whole tragedy is leaving me with just an ache  inside. So far Whit has woken up four times trying to go to sleep, and I'm kind of glad because it gives me another chance to hug him, look at him, smooth his hair down. Just to touch him and know that he's still there.

The part that makes me angry is that the next conversation is: how do we prevent this in the future? And inevitably there are people saying things like "gun control won't stop this" or "we should arm ourselves so we can take these nuts out." And to hear the White House Press Secretary say today's not the day to talk legislation? If a man kills 20 children in cold blood and it's still not the day to talk legislation, what the hell has to happen before it is the day?

And then there's people saying let's not talk about this today or on Facebook. Really? I am outraged there are people willing to accept a guy shooting 20 kids as just something that happens and thinking there's nothing we can do. That we shouldn't talk about it is insane! This country was founded on passionate ideas. If we're not passionate about things, then things will never change and this could easily happen again.

/soap box over

I think I'm going to peek in on my baby again and thank God he's alright.

Cool as a cucumber

"It was... soap... poisoning!"

Yesterday was Whit's four month doctor visit, and the boy is growing great! He's 17 lbs, 6 oz., almost 26" tall and head circumference is almost 17". The appointment also meant more shots. Wah wah wah. But, of course, the kiddo was great (and Mama remembered to give him Tylenol beforehand). We have one easy going baby, thank goodness! And I have witnesses to prove it. Monday night was the office Christmas party and Whit was definitely the guest to be seen with. It's funny how whenever we're in a group of people Whit never stays with us long. One minute he's with Ben, then Amy, then Leslie, then Bob, then Melanie. People always ask me if I'm okay with other people holding him for very long, of course I am! Not only does my back need the break, but he loves visiting and I definitely want to foster the extrovert in him.

The best part of the night was the giggle fest he had with my "boss's" (he's a friend of the family so I feel weird calling him my boss) parents. Ben and I have never heard him laugh so hard! Poor guy was having a hard time catching his breath they were so funny. I wish I had gotten it on video, but I knew as soon as I left to get my phone he would be done and I would have missed it.

So from that I've decided my new goal is to make my son laugh every day, or at least smile. Which should be fairly easy, since this kid is such a good-natured little fella.

This party animal is tuckered.

"You have a baby. Now is not the time to try recipes from Pinterest!"

Tonight is our office's Christmas party and I work in an office full of women who are the Pinterest type, so we tend to be ambitious with our baking and decorating. At last year's party I was in the thick of the all-day-sickness portion of pregnancy and couldn't even think of sweets without wanting to hurl. So this year now that I'm all better and have a handsome new man to show off, my head was reeling with possibilities until my wise office manager reminded me. "You have a baby. Now is not the time to try recipes from Pinterest!" She's right. Now is the time to stick to time-honored recipes that I know work and I know exactly how much time they take.

So I thought I would share, in case anyone else out there needs to whip up a dessert or appetizer in no time flat:


Sausage Balls (or what we call Faux Boudin Balls- because it's nearly impossible to find real boudin here):

2 lbs. sage sausage
1 lb. shredded sharp cheddar
2 c. Bisquick
2 T minced onion
2 t poultry seasoning
dashes of Worcestershire sauce

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Get a big bowl, take off your rings and mash all ingredients together and roll into balls. Place on cookie sheets (I put down parchment paper first to help keep my cookie sheets clean longer) and bake for around 15 minutes. Let cool on paper towels to help suck out some of the grease. Et voila!

Haystacks:

1 12 oz. bag of butterscotch chips
1 heaping spoon of peanut butter (You can use creamy or chunky, normally I use creamy. Or you can omit this if there's someone allergic to nuts at the shindig.)
chow mein noodles

Pour butterscotch into a microwave safe bowl. Melt butterscotch in microwave for 2 minutes. Add peanut butter and mix well. Add chow mein noodles, about a half a bag, and mix until coated. Drop spoonfuls onto wax paper.

Normally I am a chocolate or nothing kind of gal, but I lurve haystacks! They always remind me of Christmas at my Grandma Patsy's with all the cousins, second cousins, great aunts and uncles and mamaws. I can't wait until we have a big family too and can have big Christmases like that again!

Santa! Sort of...

I need to be a pushy mom.

Yesterday my only goal was for Whit to see Santa. After a few mishaps, mainly me driving all over town to find a new car seat because the cat annihilated Whit's, we finally got to the mall... right as Santa took his break. I was thisclose to having a break down at that point. Thankfully Ben calmed me down and we did a little shopping until Santa got back. Go through the line in about 45 minutes, get to the big guy and he was sooooo weird! He even called my child a "ball buster". WTF?! I was so boggled and drained we took the picture, and I didn't ask to retake it even though Whit's jeans are up to his knees and it's driving my OCD crazy. Oh well. At least my little man has made the picture worthwhile...

I don't think he's impressed.

Happy Four Months!

At four months, Whit...

...is now in size 3 diapers. No more swaddlers :(

...is a growing boy! This week he grew out of some jeans I had just bought last week. He's now mostly in 6 months clothes. His 3 month old onesies are pretty much only used as undershirts now.

...laughed! We've heard a couple of hearty laughs and a few real giggles from him now!

...is consistently rolling over from belly to back. And has started a new thing where he looks like he's trying to do a backstroke on land. It's quite hilarious.

...loves for me to sing "The Christmas Song" and "La Cucaracha" to him.

...is going to bed MUCH easier and, with the exception of a couple of nights, still sleeps the whole night through.

...is MUCH better at the ride home from his grandparents now. But I think the Christmas lights along the way may be why.

...has a tooth coming in! We noticed it Tuesday and are so excited there's progress on all this gnawing and drooling.

...had a great time at his first Thanksgiving. While we ate he was entranced with the chandelier and babbled at it all through dinner.

...babbles so much more. He's stopped saying consonants in favor of "oohs", "aahs" and the occasional "WHOA".

...is very adept at blowing raspberries with and without his tongue.

...loves to dance... a lot!

...also still loving walks (and occasional jogs in our new jogging stroller), bath time and his puppies. Now loves playing "little bunny foo foo", "itsy bitsy spider", and holding anything that makes noise.

...is a big fan of our Christmas tree, his bumbo, and a new color-spinning toy I got for his high chair.

...went to his first storytime at the library and it was a huge hit!

...found out who he really looks like. My mom posted a picture of my youngest sister visiting Santa for the first time and if it weren't for the girly clothes, you would have thought it was Whit.

...is such a funny kid. His expressions slay me. For instance...

I think someone didn't feel like having a photo shoot today.

Happy Birthday Ben!

Yesterday was Ben's 35th! Wow, that sounds... not old, but... grown up. When I first met Ben he was 26 and I was 19, so every year at our birthdays I am amazed at how much we've changed. Although, Ben hasn't changed much. He's still the funny, handsome, kind, way too intelligent, considerate and PATIENT man I met ten years ago. It's me that's changed so much and because of him (and in this instance it's a good thing). Because of him, I've learned when bad things happen it's not the end of the world, way too much about astrophysics, and that together we can take on anything. We have taken on lots of adventures together: a long distance relationship, college, moving in together, marriage, many many moves (two across the country), dropping everything and living in California to pursue my dream, buying a house, starting a business, starting a family. 

I can't remember what we were laughing about the other night, all I remember is that it's because he and I are the same kind of crazy. Ben joked we should write a song called that. And we are the same kind of crazy, I think that's why we work together. We understand each other and our terrible jokes. There's nothing I could say that would scare him away and there's nothing he could say that would scare me away. When I was at my lowest after having Whit, I bared my soul to Ben for an afternoon afraid of what he would think and he just hugged me and told me that everything was going to be fine and that I wasn't crazy, my hormones were. By the way, husbands, sometimes we need to be reminded of that.

Whoa, can you tell how old this picture is? I think this circa 2005? What was this taken with, a 3MP camera?

Did I mention 'handsome'?

Our "happiest place on Earth" picture. The day we visited Disneyland was probably the wettest, coldest day ever while we lived in Anaheim.

 

Ever since having Whit, daily I am reminded what a wonderful man Ben is. I always thought he would be a great father and boy was I right! That little man reserves his biggest smiles for his papa. Yesterday morning when I came in from my run Whit was standing on Ben's lap, holding his hands together and giving him huge gummy smiles and almost-laughs. So far Ben's the only one who can get Whit to laugh on a regular basis! For instance:

After having lots of playtime with Whit, the little man went to spend the night with his grandma and we had Chipotle for lunch since we were both craving it for a while, went to visit our friend who runs a comic book shop in town and played a few games. Then we went to the Melting Pot for supper, which is always good, but this new Memphis BBQ pork they have is amazing! Afterwards we came home and celebrated Ben's birthday and Prohibition Repeal Day with a bottle of riesling. As a bonus we both got to sleep in today and it was so wonderful! 

Since we only get the strawberries and banana for the chocolate course, our server had to improvise, haha.

So Happy Birthday to my husband and best friend, I look forward to many many more together. And those gray beard hairs that are coming in look so distinguished! ;-) 

Whoa!

Just had a friend's status hit me like a ton of bricks. She asked if anyone had a paper with her recently born son's birth announcement in it. I never even thought about that when Whit was born! You know though, now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not exactly sure we have a local paper here.

Wow, newspapers just aren't a normal piece of our lives anymore. I'm a little sad that I didn't get a birth announcement in, but at the same time why in the world would I have thought of it? Aside from the little freebie we get on Wednesdays, I haven't bought a newspaper in over two years? And none of the numerous websites, books, and blogs I read ever mentioned putting an announcement in the paper.

Well my mind has been blown today!